Author's Note: Back to Europe! Let's check in with the psychotic Europeans (no offense to any Europeans out there... I was talking about the snapped characters). Also, AUSTRIA'S MAGICAL HEALING MUSIC! YAY! \(^o^)/

Yeah... I sound way too cheerful for an author who's about to kill another character... Ah, well...

Chapter 16:

Getting over a hard history, there is an important present

Italy never went anywhere now without his music playing. Or, rather, Austria's music. It had done him wonders. It felt good to return to the realm of the sane. France, Spain, and England had been the last of his conquests. He would never go around attacking random countries ever again.

Of course, that didn't mean he had given up the war. He still had one last thing he needed to do, before he would truly be at peace.

Get revenge on Poland.

Italy crept through enemy territory, taking full advantage of the dark moonless night, his senses on high alert. Through the speaker in his headpiece, Austria's music played at an almost unnoticeable volume, so that he could use his sense of hearing to watch for enemies. He smiled to himself. So far so good. No one had noticed him yet. He was surprised at the ease with which he had been able to get to Warsaw, considering the fact that Poland was fighting both Italy and Russia. He supposed it was because all of Poland's soldiers were at the borders.

Well, no matter, Italy thought. Just makes my job easier. He checked one last time to make sure his uniform was correct, then strode out into the open.

It was easy getting to the war center. What was hard was getting in. Unlike the rest of Warsaw, there were plenty of soldier guarding the main center of planning for the war. But Italy was sure he would be fine. He still had a letter of trust from Poland, who had given it to him when they were still friends. As far as Italy knew, it was still valid. Even if it wasn't, no one would bother verifying it if he needed to use it.

"Stój!" A Polish soldier stepped in front of him just as he was about to step into the building.

Italy paused. He knew this was going to happen.

"What business do you have?"

"I'm here to see the General. I have a message for him." It wasn't really a lie. Italy was more worried about the slight accent he had while speaking Polish, but the soldier either didn't notice or didn't care.

"Let me see your identification."

Italy handed over his papers. After examining them for a while, the soldier nodded and let him through. Italy smiled. That was almost too easy.

He walked purposefully through the halls, relying on the diagram of the building he had memorized a while ago, and found the room he was looking for. He drew his gun out, standing in front of the doors.

He only hesitated for a second before slamming open the door and walking into the room.

Five shots were fired; five bodies dropped to the floor. Italy smiled, mentally congratulating himself on a job well done. He turned to face the last occupant of the room.

Poland could only stare in shock as, one after the other, Italy took out all of his top government officials. But then his gaze hardened.

"Italy!"

"Ve, ciao, Poland! How have you been?" Italy smiled at Poland.

"Italy, what was that for?"

"Oh, that? That was revenge for invading Germany! Don't worry, I'm not done yet. You will pay for killing my friend." Italy dropped his innocent face and glowered at Poland.

Poland just laughed. "Are you really still going on about that? Italy, I would have thought you would have known better! This is war. Germany was only one of many casualties. We all lost friends, Italy. You just have to accept that."

"We lost more than just friends, Poland," Italy said sadly. "We lost our sanity, our direction. We lost ourselves."

He reached into his pocket and brought out the music player, turning it up high and blasting the sound through the room.

Poland stumbled backwards at the sudden sound, catching himself on the edge of the table. Something in his eyes shifted, and he blinked at Italy in surprise.

"Italy? What are you, like, doing here?"

"Try to remember, Poland."

"Remember? Remember wha- oh. Oh." Poland's face fell, but his eyes remained clear of the insanity that had possessed them before. "Oh, no..."

"I'm sorry, Poland. I really am."

And that was when the bombs began to fall.

Hours after the bombing, Italy was kneeling on the ground in the rubble, cradling Poland's head in his lap. Tears streamed down his face as he murmured apologies.

"I-Italy..."

"Ve, yes, Poland?"

"Thanks... Thanks for... helping me back... from being crazy..."

"Poland..."

"I... couldn't have... asked for a... better friend... Mój przyjaciel... Feliciano..."

"Feliks..."

"Don't... cry... I... deserved... it..."

"Mi dispiace..."

"I... forgive you..." Poland looked to the rose colored sky. "Ah... what a beautiful... sunrise... See you... soon... Liet..."

Poland's eyes flickered shut, and with a sigh, he faded into the soft pink light of the rising sun.

Republic of Poland - conquered by Italy - gone

Author's Note: I worked the color pink in there! YAY!

REALLY RANDOM FACT: Apparently China's largest trading partner is Switzerland...

The title comes from Poland's "Marukaite Chikyuu".

Translations:

Stój - stop

mój przyjaciel - my friend

mi dispiace - I'm sorry